Monday, May 30, 2016

Collecting WWII memorabilia extends beyond looking for them in stores. It is also about making them last. Unfortunately, many people do not know the basics of memorabilia care. These simple techniques can dramatically lengthen the lifespan of each artifact – ensuring the collector’s pleasure for longer.

Understand what is involved: Memorabilia comes in different materials. One of the hardest materials to care for is leather because it fades quite quickly. An important tip when dealing with leather is knowing how badly damaged the material is, if ever. To do this, apply a leather dressing solution using a Q-tip around the area (preferably in a hidden area). If the area darkens, then the leather needs to be retouched. There are local stores that deal with leather restoration. The memorabilia though may have to be kept in a glass container. This applies to other materials as well.

Consider storage and framing: Most WWII memorabilia are posters and paper clippings. These items are extremely delicate and need proper storage. A good tip is to store these paper items in an acid-free scrapbook. Glassine paper sleeves turn acidic after a few years, so it is good not to place expensive memorabilia in these containers.

The most important suggestion is to speak with one’s supplier. Most WWII memorabilia are bought from fellow collectors themselves. They understand how to care for properly their items in the best way possible. Remember that memorabilia of considerable value should be well-taken cared for, if the purpose is reselling. Intrinsic value does decrease with age and any form of damage.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

World War II spanned continents and sent a ripple of massive change to every single country it touched. Most history lessons talk about the immediate effects of the war in America and Europe; yet for my part, I encourage everyone to remember the Philippines and how it became a critical war point in which both political sides gravitated.

The Philippines is an archipelago located in South East Asia and was key in the Allies strategy in gaining dominance over Japan. The islands provided Americans the opportunity to sufficiently deploy troops in a relatively safe, and invitingly near area. After setting up base in certain regions, the Philippines became somewhat of an American naval station.

This led to the Japanese invading and laying claim of the country during the latter parts of the war. The invasion led to the massive destruction of its capital, Manila. In fact, history books recall the Battle of Manila as one of the worst in terms of overall structure destruction. It was also during this time that the Japanese fought for control of the Philippine Islands. The overwhelming sense of war drove the naturally independent tribes of the nation to band together. In an unforeseen turn of events, the war caused the Filipinos to work together to neither represent the Allies nor the Axis powers.

World War II began its end after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed. The Japanese officially surrendered and everyone paused for the horror of what was released. For the Philippine people, however, they too picked up the pieces of a destroyed nation. The war left its traces among the people. They could no longer ignore that they united for a single cause. After only a few short years of working with the United States, the Philippines declared itself an independent nation. Many historians attribute this action as a product of World War II.

My name is John F. Eilermann, an avid World War II enthusiast. I try to learn as much as I can about the war and share my learnings on this Facebook page.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

War is never an easy word to say. Just the very mention of it conjures images of death and destruction. There is a saying that goes something along the lines of “No one wins at war.” There is truth in that, but it would be a very naïve person to think that there have been no benefits to war. I do not mean to offend. By no accounts am I promoting war or death. Yet war has given us certain technologies, which have benefited us.

For example, many people forget that radar and sonar technologies were developed during World War II. Radar is an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging while sonar is for SOund Navigation And Ranging. Both of these technologies were constructed for intelligence-building and scanning. German engineers developed the radar technology to improve their attack and counter-attack operations. As both the Axis and Allied powers developed the technology, so did its usage. What was initially used to enhance airplane location and landings were now used to improve communication among groups. When the war ended, the technology was adapted for everyday purposes. The military still uses it, as well as various industries. Similarly, sonar is no longer limited to submarine usage. Many scientists use sonar ] in their researches.

World War II can be studied in many different ways. I think that its positive effects – as they were – should also be highlighted. Again, I cannot stress the intention behind this. The study of war should be done with an objective mindset, viewing both the negative and positive effects of the experience. I merely wanted to point out that certain aspects of our lives now have benefitted from the technologies spurred by war.

Hi! I am John Eilermann and I am a World War II buff. I like studying and reading about history and posting some of my insights online. Learn more when you follow me on Twitter.

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About Me

My name is John Eilermann, and I am a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the German football club Hannover 96. I hope you will all enjoy the articles I post here discussing baseball, soccer, and other sports. If you’re also interested, you can also check out my articles about World War II, a topic that is important to me.